Steve Bates - All The Things That Happen [Constellation Records 167]

Put out on the circuit via the ever active label that is Constellation Records on September 23rd, 2k22 is "All The Things That Happen", the first full length solo album crafted by Steve Bates for the imprint. Informed by his love for and involvement in PostRock, Winnipeg Hardcore and Punk as well as his neverending interest in fm static and -noise sparked very early the nine tracks on this longplayer are rolled out over the course of roughly 39 minutes and see Mr. Bates on a explorational tip, dealing with and well processing sonic source material generated from the Casio SK-1 keyboard sampler to create an oftentimes off-kilter, twisted and distorted wall of sound which, mostly in its compelling background harmonics, suits the Ambient description, yet regularly crosses over into a realm of Noize, distortion and feedbacks that evokes memories of Shoegaze and Post-PostRock at times, with all elements moving and falling together in a way best described as OffAmbient x UnAmbient which, although soothing and comforting in a very specific way, creates innate tension and a more general sonic depiction of slowly occuring friction and (tectonic) shifts within our environment. Three tunes to check out: the almost static glacial pulses of "Covered In Silt And Weed" which later drift off to become an artificial emulation of tender, crackly and yearning PianoAmbient harmonies, the hovering, melancholia-inducing and surely otherworldly beauty of the panoramic Ambient cut that is "Glimpse An End" as well as the more agitated and well buzzing "Bring On Black Flames" which kinda speaks volumes of Steve Bates roots in Punk and Hardcore.

Album artwork on Instagram!